Finding happiness in the joy of others Published March 27, 2012 By Maj. Eliot Sasson Commander, 436th Maintenance Squadron DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- For more than 14 years I have had the honor of donning the uniform of this great Air Force. Although I was trained to memorize the core values, my true comprehension of them has changed over the years. In particular, I always knew what service before self meant, but until recently I don't think I truly appreciated its depth. I figured that as long as I stayed at work instead of making it home for dinner, or understood that deploying took priority over an anniversary, then I had bought-in to service before self. As a young officer I was fighting for a reputation, an identity. I wanted to be recognized and stand out from the crowd. So I worked harder than I should have and gleaned the spotlight more than I should have. I was putting service before self by giving the Air Force everything I had. And guess what? It worked! Well, that's what I thought at the time. Over the years I awoke to the realization that I wasn't putting service before self at all, but rather I was serving myself. Amazingly, but not surprisingly, the epiphany was not self-identified...it was evoked through my experiences with fellow Airmen. The most memorable moments of my career lie not in what I did, but in the triumphs and tragedies of the amazing Airmen I am surrounded by every day. My most vivid memories include Staff Sgt. Jason Melendez, Staff Sgt. William Cronin and Staff Sgt. Raun Carnley, 436th Maintenance Squadron Airmen who jumped for joy alongside their loved ones as they accepted their John L. Levitow Awards from Airman Leadership School. They include Senior Airman Chris Smith, who relished in telling me all about his experience attending the NFL Rookie Combine and catching passes from his childhood idols. They include Senior Airman Naomi Scott, who literally leapt off the stage and into my arms as we celebrated her victory in the Air Mobility Command Icon competition. They include Master Sgt.. Eric Guest, who wept with happiness as I presented him with stripes commemorating his selection for senior master sergeant. And they include Staff Sgt. Mike Christman, who after being presented his Air Force-level Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance, turned to me and whispered, "Sir, I'm touched by how proud you are to show me off to the wing." These memories also include working vigorously to get Senior Airman Jonathan Damon home from a deployment when his wife went into pre-term labor, to later find out he made it home just foue hours before his son was born. They include standing strong with my Airmen as they walked away from their crying spouses and kids to embark on a deployment to an unknown destination, not knowing if, or when, they would return. And they include hugging, crying and healing with fellow squadron members as, more times than I care to remember, we laid a squadron member to rest for the final time. I have found my perspective of the core value of service before self has changed dramatically. I always thought it meant that the Air Force takes priority. I now recognize that it really includes making your personal needs subservient to the needs of your people. And the great thing is by doing that, your personal needs will be fulfilled more than you ever could have imagined. My focus on others has become the cornerstone of my leadership philosophy. My job satisfaction and personal sense of accomplishment are at all-time highs. And guess what? So is my true commitment to service before self! As I look back at my career I have just one regret...one unresolved, nagging regret. I wonder how many Airmen's achievements I overlooked while I was busy taking care of myself?